Ottawa city councillors will debate a plan to study a “bubble zone” bylaw at the next council meeting after a notice of motion was tabled Wednesday.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said the bylaw aims to restrict demonstrations near certain community spaces, including schools and hospitals amid an increase in hate crimes.
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“No one should feel threatened or intimidated when attending their place of worship, school, community centre, or any other gathering space. Our mosques, churches, synagogues, and other institutions play a crucial role in supporting some of our most vulnerable community members, including seniors and children,” Sutcliffe wrote on social media.
Sutcliffe added there was a 19 per cent increase in hate crimes in 2023 targeting Muslim, Jewish, LGBTQ+ and other groups in Ottawa.
“That is not just a statistic; it’s a call to action,” he …